Fistfight in bank queue

THERE was commotion at a bank queue in Bulawayo when desperate customers exchanged blows after those who were queuing to withdraw money at an ATM accused some people of jumping the queue.

They also accused them of bribing guards with $2. The incident happened yesterday morning at the Ecobank branch in Bulawayo.

Witnesses said some security guards who were controlling the queue were allegedly bribed with $2 and were taking cards from the people and withdrawing for them. That irked other customers who turned against the people who were bribing the guards.

"The bank has three security guards but two of them were taking bribes from people who were at the back of the queue. That angered other people who complained that they had spent hours in the queue in a bid to access money," she said.

The witness said some of the people were complaining that they joined the queue at 4 am.

"The situation normalised after people said they would control the queue themselves and not rely on the guards," said the witness.

Ecobank is among the few remaining banks which is still disbursing money through ATMs. Most banks are failing to meet demand for cash. This has seen people sleeping in bank queues to access money.